Almost 5 years ago, Estelle & Magan met at a wedding — where M was the photographer and E was a bridesmaid for her best friend's big day. We talked about books for under five minutes, and a friendship was born.

Since then, we’ve shared our love of books, Zac Efron, and shopping on this blog, changed jobs, had babies, moved, visited DC and Disney World together, and constantly stayed connected -- despite the miles between us. RBR has been the our own version of a coffee date, our way to mark the time before we can hang out and gab in person again. Thanks for spending time with us. xoxo

Tag Archives: daisy whitney

I’m pretty drawn to tough subject books. I scoured my Goodreads lists and narrowed it down to these FIFTEEN tough subject books instead of ten. (Bonus reads!) Obviously I didn’t follow the rules very well. Some of these were harder than others, but they all have aspects of them that really open your eyes to […]

Alexa S.-These books do cover some tough subjects! I do think it’s important though, because sometimes people feel so alone in these situations – and these books might remind them that they aren’t alone. I got reminded of a few titles I’ve been meaning to check out, so thanks for putting the list together!

October 6, 2014 - 8:02 am

Nicole @ The Quiet Concert-I too am drawn to tough subject books and thought i’d read a decent amount of them so I’m surprised that I’ve only read two on this entire list (but good surprised as I have more recommendations). I definitely want to read Rites of Passage since I’ve been seeing that around a lot lately and it has a military theme which we don’t get all that often. When You Were Here is also at the top of my list. Thanks for sharing!

October 3, 2014 - 8:35 am

Jamie-SO spot on for the ones out of this list I’ve read! Rites of Passage had me LITERALLY shaking it was so hard to read how she was treated and just knowing they were getting away with that crap. OH MY GOD. I still feel a fit of rage coming on thinking about it. Loved that book so hard though! Some Girls Are was really hard too..I remember being physically shaken by it. I was reading it on vacation (in the bathtub and literally finished the whole thing — after being in a house with my sister’s kids for a week I just wanted to escape haha) and I just remember thinking how scared I was for Genevieve to grow up. Because this bullying thing, to me at least, seems way worse than when I was a kid…unless Ijust didn’t see it or experience it.

September 30, 2014 - 8:39 pm

Magan-Amanda, I DEFINITELY AGREE. I had never had to sit a book aside like I did when I read Room. (Well, until I read Live Through This. That one was a doozie for me.) Glad you enjoyed it, but also glad you understand why it was uncomfortable for me. 🙂

September 30, 2014 - 8:38 pm

Magan-Sue, I haven’t read any books by Ellen Hopkins yet. I should fix that. A few times I’ve looked for them at my local library, but they had them out of sequence and I haven’t remembered to put them on hold. :-/ Thanks for the suggestion!!

Amanda-Room is on my list too. It was such a powerfully written book, but I have rarely felt so uncomfortable the whole time I was reading.

September 30, 2014 - 2:57 pm

Sue-I’ve read Room and Live Through This, both excellent books. I think the toughest book I have read was Tricks by Ellen Hopkins, have you read any of her books? All tough subjects but written in verse which for some reason makes such an impact.

September 30, 2014 - 11:38 am

Magan-Chrissi, I hope you give Rites of Passage a go! It’s FANTASTIC. The buzz isn’t publisher-generated. It’s well-deserved and so worth the read. I really hope that you find some great books from this list, even if they’re not always easy to read! 🙂

September 30, 2014 - 11:37 am

Magan-Oh, Cait. I completely understand. Tease was difficult because the MC was just so, so unlikeable. I wanted to hate her. Rites of Passage is one of my absolute favorite books this year. I hope you’ll give it a try. It’s hard, yes, but OH SO VERY GOOD. (And incredibly well-written!)

September 30, 2014 - 11:36 am

Magan-Brianna, it was so uncomfortable. I completely agree. I put it aside for a long while and stopped reading it. (Only to realize that if I had read about 6 more pages, BIG things would have happened and my anxiety would have decreased severely.) There are some tough books on this list, but for sure amazing ones. I hope you’ll give a few of them a try!

September 30, 2014 - 11:34 am

Magan-Cassie, it’s so true. Even as someone who is a Christian (though I don’t believe everything was as black and white as the MC’s community wanted her to believe), it was such a difficult read for me. I remember cringing and just really aching for her as she tried to figure out what she believed. A tough read, yes, but I hope also encouraging for those who read it and are working through their own dilemmas.

September 30, 2014 - 11:02 am

Cassie @ Happy Book Lovers-Small Town Sinners was one of the hardest books to read for me. Ever. I have never come across people like this in real life, so it was hard for me to understand the religious community and all the activities they did. I feel like those shouldn’t be allowed, especially as a community event people must participate in. But the hardest part was reading it from the MC’s point of view and listening to her thoughts about gay marriage and abortions, and that those vastly disagreed with my own opinions. I’m glad I read it, but it was still really hard for me to get through. I think it made a really good point and did well exploring the topics from a different point of view than I would normally read, and by the end, everything made sense. But that will always stick out to me as being a difficult book to get through.

September 30, 2014 - 10:41 am

Brianna-I’ve only read Room. Clearly, I avoid books with difficult subjects. I didn’t love Room. I thought it was strange and unrealistic. Not that kidnapping is unrealistic, but the whole premise just weirded me out.

September 30, 2014 - 6:42 am

Cait @ Notebook Sisters-I really find books about bullying super hard to read too. 🙁 I mean, usually they’re good and they have such strong messages and they need to be said! But I tend to avoid them…I couldn’t read Tease. I WOULD like to try Rites of Passage but … not yet. >_<Here’s my TTT!

September 30, 2014 - 12:46 am

Chrissi Reads-I didn’t think Rites of Passage would be a book that I wanted to read, but the buzz around it is really making me want to read it! I really want to check out most of the books on your list!

Can you believe there’s only two weeks left of our Sweet Summertime Reads series with Ginger and Tara? It’s been such a fun summer of new ideas, summer loving, and it’s crazy that it’s about to come to a close. I’m going solo today with this post but it is totally inspired by Magan’s affection […]

Alexa Y.-This gift pack is the perfect mix of eclectic and awesome! I really like it a lot. It also makes me want to read When You Were Here even more than I already do. GAH. Why do I not have a copy here with me right now? So glad you enjoyed it!

August 20, 2013 - 10:16 pm

ShootingStarsMag-Love this post! I haven’t read the book, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. I randomly try and find gift items that I feel fit a novel I’ve read so people can put them together for an awesome gift. It’s fun to see that others are doing the same and it makes me want to read certain books even more!

August 20, 2013 - 8:15 pm

Bookworm1858-This book is on my list-love a good male protagonist and seeing which items you selected and why.

August 20, 2013 - 5:57 pm

elena-love this!!! as soon as i saw this post, i was like I AM GOING TO READ IT but then i took a nap instead. perhaps i’ll read it after commenting now!! love your story about lilacs. 🙂

August 20, 2013 - 4:04 pm

Ginger @ GReads!-This book was on my “summer reading list” & I have yet to read it! And the summer is almost over! I should rectify this sooner, rather than later. I have a feeling it will be something I enjoy.

When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney (twitter | website) Publication Date: June 4, 2013 Publisher: Little, Brown Pages: 264 Target audience: Young Adult Keywords: loss of a parent, grief, Tokyo, relationships that don’t end well Format read: ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley. (Thank you!) Other Books Read by the Author: The Mockingbirds […]

Sweet Summertime Reads: When You Were Here Gift Pack, Estelle-[…] Can you believe there’s only two weeks left of our Sweet Summertime Reads series with Ginger and Tara? It’s been such a fun summer of new ideas, summer loving, and it’s crazy that it’s about to come to a close. I’m going solo today with this post but it is totally inspired by Magan’s affection for When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney. […]

June 19, 2013 - 4:53 am

Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous-I was already excited about it, but now I’m REALLY excited. I really liked Mockingbirds but I wanted something…more from it. This seems like it has it. Great review, Magan. Can’t wait to read this one.

June 17, 2013 - 4:28 pm

Alexa Y.-I am sincerely excited to read this book! I love that readers get to witness Danny’s journey through his grief. I also love that he gets to go to Japan, which is one of my favorite countries in the whole entire world! Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this one 🙂

June 13, 2013 - 8:05 pm

alicejane011-Ahhh this review makes me want the When We Were Here even more! I love how it’s partially set in Tokyo. I’m happy that it’s really good because it’s been on my TBR list for a while now.

June 13, 2013 - 7:20 pm

molly @ wrapped up in books-This sounds like the perfect book. It’s been sitting on the top of my ARC pile and I’ve been behind and busy — but I’m resolving to pick this up next. It sounds perfect!

Lisa Schensted-I was at B&N yesterday and was SO CLOSE to buying this…and then bought Second Chance Summer instead.

This will be next! I KNOW IT.

June 12, 2013 - 1:21 pm

Taylor @ Reading is the Thing-Well, I didn’t think it was possible, but your review made me even MORE compelled to get my hands on this book ASAP. I’m so glad you loved it, I have some really high hopes. Great review!

Happy Sunday + Happy Shelve It Day! It has been A WEEK. I’m still reeling from the exhaustion I’ve been experiencing post-BEA. And if you guys remember, I didn’t even attend BEA this year. But with people in town, places to go, people to see, some book events in between, it was one of the […]

Heidi-It was so nice to meet you after BEA, Estelle! I totally understand the complete inability to resist buying books, CLEARLY I had an issue and picked up like 8 that day between The Strand and Books of Wonder even though I’d gone to BEA and gotten tons already. I should have gone to that Harlequin Cocktail party a while back! I was invited, but I honestly didn’t know anyone else who was going and wasn’t sure it’d be worth the schlep into the city. I did really enjoy meeting Elizabeth Scott at the breakfast though, and was lucky enough to meet Lauren Myracle and Cat Patrick during the week as well–both were lovely!

June 11, 2013 - 12:36 pm

Lucy @ The Reading Date-You had a great book week! I love Elizabeth Scott’s books so Heartbeat is a book I would have waited in line for at BEA. Added When You were the Greatest to my TBR- sounds like a good one. And The Infinite Moment of Us also sounds fantastic. I loved Myracle’s book Shine.

And oh how I miss the Strand! I lived in NY long ago and hope to get back soon to do some shopping.

Happy reading, Estelle!

June 10, 2013 - 9:51 pm

Ash @ Paranormal Indulgence-I’m becoming a big fan of your vlogs! One, because it’s so awesome to see your face, and two, because you’ve pointed me toward some AMAZING-SOUNDING contemporaries these days. I put RULES OF SUMMER in my TBR and I definitely want to check out OCD LOVE STORY!

And I know what you mean about that BEA hangover, man. I’M STILL FEELING IT.

June 10, 2013 - 5:13 pm

Alexa Y.-I really, really want to buy When You Were Here because (a) contemporary story and (b) JAPAN. Please convince me not to spend more money… (though I’ve resisted it twice now!). Great selection of books though!

June 9, 2013 - 2:02 pm

Krystianna-You Look Different in Real Life sounds like such a good read! It sounds very unique, which I really like. Just Like Fate sounds pretty good too. I read Cat Patrick’s other book, Revived, and I really liked it. I hope you enjoy your books and thanks for sharing!

And HEY!! It’s so good to see your face/hear your voice!! So glad we got to meet and I love that your week was just as hectic as ours 🙂

June 9, 2013 - 5:25 am

Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous-I can’t wait to read When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney. I think it was marketed as Where She Went meets Lost in Translation? Either way, sign me up! BTW I love your Ron Swanson print. 🙂 And there is ALWAYS room for a soda float!

June 9, 2013 - 5:21 am

Amanda-My eyes MAY have turned into giant hearts when I saw you got OCD Love Story. That book has been on my wish list for a couple months now!

I really need to pick up When You Were Here. Everyone and their grandmother has read it, and I feel like I’m being left in the dust, like with most books. 😛

Welcome to our first post for Sweet Summertime Reads, a feature we’re co-hosting with Tara at Fiction Folio and Ginger at GReads! Ginger kicked us off yesterday with a trip to the beach and a giveaway of Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. (Go enter!) Today we’re taking you to two places we’ve both […]

Summer Reading: Young Adult for Disney Fans-[…] interns at a theme park in New Jersey that sounds very much like the Magic Kingdom so, of course, I wrote about Disney. (Melissa from Mouse on the Mind liked it so much she featured it in her Weekly […]

Alexa Y.-I love this post so, so much! Seriously, you guys have named two of my favorite places in the world – Walt Disney World & Japan. I’ve been lucky enough to go to both in my lifetime, though I wouldn’t mind a return trip, particularly to Japan. I haven’t read either of the books that inspired your ideas for these trips though so… I may need to get on that!

Asheley Tart (@BookwormAsheley)-Ok so Estelle we talked a little a few days about about my as-yet non-existent Disney adventures. I want some Disney adventures. I haven’t read this book but perhaps I might enjoy it as a lighter read? Also, that guy on the front is like Donnie Wahlberg from NKOTB days just as sure as I’m sitting here in my favorite paisly-print chair right now. TRUTH. I think I’ve discussed this before with people. I can’t get over that hair and shirt.

Also, Magan, I just finished When You Were Here and oh my goodness gracious, such a wonderful book. I’ve never really wanted to visit Japan before necessarily, but after that book – I’d totally go. Whitney had such a nice and gentle way of writing it that the culture and setting didn’t overwhelm me even though sometimes that particular place can be overwhelming because it is just so unapologetic and bright and wonderful. Also, we should talk about sushi because you can actually eat sushi that isn’t raw, which is what I do and I PROMISE there is a sushi for everyone. *smiles*

Love this, ladies. LOVE IT.

June 6, 2013 - 11:23 am

Candice @ The Grown-Up YA-Great destinations! I haven’t been to Disney since high school. I’d LOVE to go back as an adult! Zoe was such a cute book that made me reminisce about our own childhood memories at Disney! Haven’t read When You Were Here, but it looks so good! Love that you picked this as your destination!

June 5, 2013 - 5:19 am

Laura @ the Booksmartie-I love this post! Like…so much 🙂 I would love to spend my summers in a theme park -that’s such an awesome idea! My parents always took me and my brother hiking -which was…umm…not always fun 🙂 Then again, I turned to like and appreciate it when I grew older! As for Tokyo – I’d leave behind every sunny beach if I could go visit that city at one point in my life. I’m pretty sure it’d be one of the most interesting places to go in the world!!

Rachel-I give your family kudos, Estelle, for going to Disney in August. I went in July a few years ago as a graduation present and I definitely suffered in the heat. Disney has the same meaning to me that it does to you. Growing up I went there once or twice a year and to me it truly was the most magical place on earth.

I also liked what you picked, Magan! I’ve been hearing so much about that book lately and it’s interesting to see the culture behind the story.

June 4, 2013 - 1:34 pm

Morgan -I followed Estelle’s tweet about how different the two locations are; lo and behold they are my two FAVORITE destinations! Adding both to GR now. Magan, the fashions in Tokyo are amazing!

June 4, 2013 - 12:31 pm

Tink-Just found your blog thru the Disney Food Blog..I love Disney and reading, perfect! Even better, that Zoe book sounds great, definitely going to have to check it out!

June 4, 2013 - 10:39 am

Tara-Estelle, I love that pic of you when you were a kid–so cute! Magan, I love your not-typical destination and can’t wait to read that book!

June 4, 2013 - 8:40 am

Ginger @ GReads! -I love that you both chose “out of the box” summer destinations & paired it with a book. Estelle, I know how close Disney is to you & it’s always fun to see your pictures from previous trips. Magan, this book is coming up soon on my TBR list – you’ve definitely made me more excited for it!

Surprise, surprise! I’m back with a vlog for this week’s Shelve It! It’s been a while, huh? I know — I’m sorry about that. There seems to rarely be quiet time to do a vlog with our baby girl happily crawling around everywhere. (But seriously — what a joy it is to have her!) I […]